“And They Dance Real Slow in Jackson” Theater in the Woods

Synopsis: In Jackson, a small town in rural Indiana, Elizabeth Ann Willow lives with her father and mother. Crippled at birth with polio, Elizabeth Ann is confined to a wheelchair and must wear leg braces, which cuts her off from the other children and prevents her regular attendance at school. Although she tries to reach out and make friends, Elizabeth Ann is increasingly isolated from and then taunted by the others, whose small-town prejudices are reinforced by a polio scare, of which Elizabeth Ann is a chilling embodiment. Comprised of a brilliantly conceived mosaic of interlocking scenes which move back and forth in time, with four performers portraying a varied assortment of children and townspeople, the play captures not only the moving story of Elizabeth Ann’s inexorable descent into madness, but also the small-mindedness and unfeeling callousness of her fellow townspeople—whose fear of the unknown or abnormal makes them the unintentional agents of her destruction. Culminating in a chilling scene, the play becomes in the final essence a moving and poetically evocative plea for understanding and compassion in a world where prejudice and casual cruelty are too often the norm. (Summary courtesy of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.)

Admission: We begin seating at 7:30 p.m. and the production begins at 8:00 p.m. – we suggest arriving by 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, seniors and Alice Ferguson Foundation Members. Walk-ins are welcome, reservations are not required but can be made by email ([email protected]) or phone (301-292-5727).

Performances are held at Hard Bargain Farm Amphitheater (an outdoor amphitheater), and the players perform rain or shine. Shows are only cancelled in the event of severe weather conditions. Umbrellas are encouraged, in the event of rain we now have covered seats available – so be sure to arrive early to sit under cover!!!! Comfortable clothing and bug spray are also highly recommended.